MY BLOG POSTS

I’m sure none of you deal with this, but sometimes I can get really annoyed at people.

Selfish people annoy me – you know, the ones who aren’t paying attention when you’re trying to merge into the turning lane? Or the ones who only talk about themselves and their problems?

I also get annoyed at the hypocrites. I know I’m not alone there. Those “religious” people who claim to know Christ, but act like jerks and treat others horribly. Who put on a show when the “right” people are watching and let their true, nasty selves show when those of us who are “unimportant” are around?

Yep, I hate strongly dislike those folks. And what’s sad is that I see them EVERYWHERE. ALL THE TIME.

And you know what’s even worse than that? I tend to completely ignore the fact that I also see one every time I look in the mirror. 

Because what I have observed is that the sins that annoy me most in others are the sins that I battle myself.

I think it’s similar to what happens when you get a new car. Three years ago, I had never even heard of a Mazda 5. Then we got one, and now I see them almost daily. Why? Because I am aware of those cars. I’m in one everyday. So I notice others who are in the same kind of car.

In the same way, I struggle daily with selfishness and hypocrisy. Sadly, sometimes “sitting” in those sins. And so, I am quick to see them in others.

What’s sad is that, in others, those sins are disgusting and disastrous to the body of Christ. But when it’s me, it’s just a bad day.

CS Lewis touches on this is in Mere Christianity. He says we are quick to forgive ourselves because we love ourselves – Was I really being selfish? Well…yes, I suppose. BUT… *insert really good reason here*. We are slower to forgive others because we don’t truly love them. We refuse to excuse their sins like we will excuse our own.

On the other hand, this self love can prevent us from truly repenting. Because I love myself and make excuses for my sin, I don’t fully recognize the need to repent. My hypocrisy isn’t really hypocrisy. That guy was a jerk to me, so I have every reason to be a jerk to him.

Except that I don’t. Because Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to pray for them. So instead of justifying all the reasons why that selfish hypocrite is undeserving of my kindness, I need to confess that I am a selfish hypocrite in desperate need of God’s grace.

The awful truth is that we can’t change anyone else. That selfish hypocrite may always be a selfish hypocrite. But, through the power of the Holy Spirit, this selfish hypocrite can change. So I need to focus on my sins and not the sins of others. Better yet, I need to focus on Jesus – the Author and Finisher of my faith.

He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

I was talking with some Kindergartners recently, and I asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. The answers were fabulous:

“Superhero!”

“Ninja!”

“T Rex!”

I winked and smiled. That was adorable. As a high school teacher, those are answers I don’t hear. But, to be honest, sometimes I’d rather hear those answers. I like those better than, “Doctor – because my parents said that’s what I should to do.” Or “Engineer – because they make  a lot of money.” Or “I don’t know – I’m not good at anything.” Not that there is anything wrong with being a doctor or an engineer or even unsure. But it’s what these decisions are based on that worries me.

Let’s go back to the Kindergartners: When asked about their future dreams, they were based on what sounds awesome to them. Fast forward twelve years, and how many teens are still doing that? When did “awesome” get relegated to the backseat when making a career choice?

Friends, most of you will have to work for a living. I had the privilege of staying home with my kids until they started school (something I HIGHLY recommend!), but that still leaves me with 30+ years to work outside the home. And most of us work a whole lot more than just 40 hours/week. So, if we are working 40+ hours a week for decades of our lives, shouldn’t we be doing something we think is awesome?

When God tells us He has a plan for our lives, that plan isn’t just “extracurricular”. It isn’t, “I want you to go on missions trips/play in the worship band/help with the children’s ministry” (all great things). His plan is all-inclusive. 24/7/365: Home and church and work and everything else.

God’s plan for your life includes your career.

So have you asked HIM what He wants you to do? And, once you ask, have you listened?

Here are some questions that may help as you consider what career God wants you to pursue:

• What do you love?  I’m not just talking subjects in school. I mean, in general, what do you love? When you have free time, what do you do? Hang out with friends? Read books? Bake cookies? Play sports? God uses what we love to guide us to what He wants us to do. Because He is good! So consider those areas that you are passionate about. Maybe God wants to take that love for others and use you as a counselor or social worker. Maybe he’s going to take that book love and use you as a writer or editor. Or your love for sports may translate into a coach or sports manager. There are so many possibilities, all using your particular gifts.
• What do you hate? There are some careers you can check off the list because you just don’t like them. My daughter briefly considered nursing…until she realized she really hates science. My son doesn’t enjoy sitting still, so he can be pretty confident that a desk job is not in his future. Some of you may really, truly hate school. So maybe a trade is better – plumber, electrician, beautician…
• What do others praise you for? What do you get recognition for? Maybe you are a leader and get picked for team captain or student council. Maybe you are great at behind-the-scenes stuff – setting up or tearing down, making sure everyone has everything they need. Maybe you’re great at decorating or planning. Listen for those words of encouragement you get, the “thank you’s”. These are things you do so naturally that you don’t even think about it. It’s part of who you are! And that is another clue for your future.
• What do others think? Your parents may want you to be a doctor, but most of us, deep down, just want our kids to be happy. If being a doctor sounds awful, we don’t want you to pursue that. Your parents know you better than you think, though, so ask them these questions. They can look back over your life and point out things like, “You have always loved kids.” Or “Ever since you were small, you’ve wanted to take things apart and put them together again.” Examine those clues as you consider what God wants.
• Pray. This isn’t last because it’s least important but because it’s the foundation that everything else is built on. James tells us that if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us. So ask. And wait. If you haven’t already figured this out, God doesn’t always answer our prayers immediately. Until I was 16, I was convinced I was going to be an actress. Then, at 16, God made it clear that wasn’t what He wanted for me. But it was another FOUR YEARS before I knew for sure what it was He wanted me to do (teach). And even then, I didn’t actually start teaching until I was 32. Writing came even later. So if you’re not sure, you’re not alone! There’s plenty you know for sure you should be doing: loving others, obeying your parents, sharing the gospel, doing everything (even schoolwork!) to the best of your ability. Be obedient in the “small” things. The bigger things will come. Maybe not in your time or in the way you expected. But GOD IS GOOD. His plan is perfect. Rest in that.

And while you’re waiting, take a lesson from those Kindergartners and Be Awesome 😀

Yesterday, at the grocery store, I stood in line in front of a family with two young kids. As the mom unloaded the cart, the dad scooped up the baby. I watched as, within ten seconds, the baby laid his head on his dad’s chest and fell asleep. Ten seconds! Maybe less. I was grabbing the last of my bags and the baby was awake. When I reached for the receipt, he was out!

I’ve been thinking a lot about rest, lately. Spiritual rest, that is. The kind Jesus says he came to give (Mt. 11:28). And I feel confident that this little family didn’t just “happen” to be behind me at the store. Because the more I thought about that baby, the more I could hear God nudging me – “This, Krista, is what I’m talking about.”

That baby wasn’t worried about how much groceries cost, he wasn’t concerned that his sister might have more goodies in the cart than he did. He wasn’t agonizing over what might happen tomorrow, nor was he replaying events from yesterday. He was simply resting, no cares at all. Why? Because he had complete, utter, childlike faith in his father.

You see where I’m going with this. While this baby’s dad seemed like a great guy, my Father God is even greater. He is in complete control, He knows everything, He has a plan for my life. And, most amazing of all, He loves me! Really, really loves me. If I can grasp that truth, then I can have rest. Because if I truly understand that the God of the universe, who knows everything and controls everything, loves me and has a plan for my life, then why should I worry? What can I possibly have to be concerned about? God’s got everything under control. Everything. Yep, even that. 

My job, then, is to be like that baby with his dad: To rest in my father, trusting Him completely. I can be confident that God doesn’t need me to remind Him of the “what-ifs”, He doesn’t need me to help Him do His job. He simply reminds me to trust Him and to rest in His arms, knowing He will take me exactly where I need to go.